Scott Boras shares Bregman nugget that could bring All-Star to Boston originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Now here’s some news that may have gone unnoticed, but could have ramifications for the Red Sox: free agent Alex Bregman is set to move to second base.
As the Red Sox try to have more right-handers This winter, Bregman seems to fit in perfectly, with one important exception. Because he plays the same position as Rafael Devers, it won’t be easy to place him on the roster in his natural third base spot.
Bregman just won his first Gold Glove and has long been one of the best defensive third basemen in baseball. He simply had the misfortune of sharing a league with Matt Chapman for most of his nine-year career, thus denying him that hardware. (Chapman switched leagues this year and recently won his fifth Gold Glove, with the Giants.)
There’s no doubt that Bregman would represent a significant defensive upgrade over the inconsistent Devers, but such moves are not made in a vacuum, and Devers’ ego must be taken into consideration, especially since he is the highest paid player in the club’s history with 313 million dollars.
He has made it clear that he considers himself a third baseman and that part of his identity derives from occupying the position. The Red Sox must weigh the mental repercussions of any move. And that’s not to mention the domino effect it would have on the rest of the squad.
Devers takes first base and force a transfer of Tristón Casas? Will he move to designated hitter, where Masataka Yoshida is in the middle of a $90 million contract? Does Yoshida need to take his shoddy glove to the outfield?
Second base is a completely different story. The Red Sox traded left-handed pitcher Chris Sale to the Braves last year for young infielder Vaughn Grissom with the assumption that he would take over as a double-play center and join the club’s core of promising young prospects as a part key to the next great Red Sox. equipment.
Too much for that. While Sale won the pitching triple crown in the National League and is the heavy favorite to claim the first Cy Young Award of his illustrious career, Grissom was practically left off the list. He battled injuries and illnesses while batting just .190 and exhibiting concerning pitching mechanics. Now he is simply one of many vying for the job, rather than the entrenched incumbent.
Enter Bregman. His agent, Scott Boras, highlighted Bregman’s place in the center of the recent Astros juggernaut. He is well known throughout baseball as a leader and heart and soul player, and is no stranger to the big stage. So Boras just dropped this little nugget:
“There just aren’t many players on earth who do what he does,” Boras told reporters. including USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale. “Also, the fact that Bregman can play second and third base, his lead, is a market that the Astros are very aware is very healthy for him.”
Second base? Boras doesn’t say anything offhandedly, and that comment is surely designed to expand Bregman’s market. Suddenly, the Red Sox make a lot more sense as a destination.
Bregman is a superstar, and putting him at second base would solve two problems without impacting the team’s prospect pool or the rest of the roster. He’s only played nine games there in his career, but he’s made 129 appearances at short, and we’ve already mentioned he’s a Golden Glover at third.
Even if the 6-foot, 190-pounder is no more than the 9-WAR player with 40-homer power from five years ago, he’s still very good entering his age-31 season.
And while some might argue that the second base job should go to prospect Kristian Campbellthere’s no comparison between a rookie and an established star like Bregman, plus Campbell can also play shortstop and outfield; There are other ways to get your bat in the lineup if that’s the goal. Signing Bregman would also open the possibility of making Campbell the centerpiece of a deal for young pitchers. Should management choose to fill any rotation vacancies that way?.
The projects of Tim Britton of the Athletic that Bregman will receive a six-year, $180 million contract. Given how poorly Boras’ clients performed last year while waiting for big payouts that never came, perhaps his guys will be more willing to sign early this time around.
That could make Bregman a perfect fit for the Red Sox in an unexpected way, with the added bonus of establishing that, this offseason, the Red Sox really plan to make a splash.